- Petitioner’s counsel calls PTI protests “completely illegal”.
- Lawyer alleges previous PTI protest caused deaths, Rs240m losses
- Larger bench to hear petition challenging PTI’s planned protests.
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued notices to the attorney general, inspectors general of police and advocate generals of all four provinces on a petition challenging the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned nationwide protests and September 27 long march on Islamabad.
The major opposition party has announced a nationwide protests and, long march towards Islamabad on September 27 to demand release of jailed party founder Imran Khan.
IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar heard a petition filed by citizen Waqas Ahmed and directed the respondents to appear in their personal capacities. The court also decided to constitute a larger bench to hear the matter.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel said he was a trader doing business in Islamabad and was affected because the planned protest was intended to be brought to the capital.
Referring to statements by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the lawyer said several matters involving the party’s leaders were already pending before courts and should be dealt with according to law.
“If their argument is accepted, people across Pakistan whose cases are pending should also take to the streets,” the counsel said.
He questioned whether there was a plan to attack Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, referring to the previous attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ), and asked how the country’s system could function if such actions continued.
The counsel described the proposed protest as “completely illegal”, claiming previous demonstrations by the party had caused casualties and financial losses.
He said three Rangers personnel lost their lives during a previous protest and cited media reports putting the financial loss from the last demonstration at Rs240 million.
The petition’s counsel argued that the protests were aimed at exerting pressure on the government to secure relief in pending cases, stressing that the Constitution guaranteed judicial independence.
“Can the government direct courts to suspend sentences in appeals if two million people are brought to Islamabad?” he asked.
The chief justice asked whether the protesters would arrive alongside the KP chief minister and government machinery. The counsel replied in the affirmative and presented a November 21, 2024 letter from the Ministry of Interior.
He claimed government machinery was used during the PTI’s 2024 protest despite the Interior Ministry’s instructions, and said no application had so far been submitted to the Islamabad district magistrate for the planned demonstration.
The lawyer also referred to the £190 million case and other pending proceedings, arguing that the court had repeatedly asked for arguments on an appeal but they had not been presented.
He questioned whether street protests could be used to pressure courts, arguing that guidelines could be issued for demonstrations but should not facilitate individuals involved in criminal cases.
The court issued notices to the attorney general, the four provincial inspector generals (IGs) and advocate generals, summoning them in their personal capacities. It also decided to constitute a larger bench to hear the matter.
The IHC adjourned further hearing until September 10.
The development came after KP CM Afridi recently led the party’s five-day mobilisation campaign across Sindh to build support for its demands, including the release of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and his immediate medical treatment.
Ex-PM Imran, 73, has been in prison since August 2023 following convictions he and his party have described as politically motivated.
Since his ouster in April 2022, he has faced multiple cases, while some convictions were suspended or overturned and several appeals remained pending.
